Tips on Buying a Farm

Date Published:

February 13th, 2018

Are you considering purchasing a farm in the Fayetteville area? If so, here at The Mortgage House, we help people get farm loans in Fayetteville. When it comes to a big investment like buying a farm, you want to be sure that you have all the information available to ensure you make the right decision. We can help you get the financing, but it is largely up to you to determine your needs so that you can find the right farm for you. A lot of people find themselves unprepared when they start looking for farmland. To help you out, here are some general tips on buying a farm.

What are you using it for?

Are you buying a farm to enjoy the rural life, or are you going to be using it for business purposes? If it is just to enjoy, the process is probably going to be much more straightforward and much easier than if you are looking to buy a farm to work it. If you are buying it for business purposes, how are you going to use the land? What you will need to raise livestock may be drastically different than what you need to raise crops. On top of that, there are different land needs for different types of livestock, and different land needs for different types of crop production. A common adage from farmers is that, if you plan to make a living off of your land, you need to plan to have something to sell weekly. While many problems do have the ability to focus on many different types of farming, it still takes coordination to ensure that there is a constant stream of revenue. Make sure you put in the appropriate time planning.

Determining Size

It’s rarely feasible to add on to farmland after the fact. So size is a huge determining factor to what kind of land you can look at. There are some general rules for livestock, although they can vary based on land features; cows tend to need about one acre each, goats need about a half acre each, about twenty pigs can fit on an acre, and horses need about one and a half acres each. When determining land size if you plan to grow crops, you have to be more considerate of the soil content, pitch, etc. of the land.

What Amenities Do You Need?

Beyond making sure your farm is big enough, you need to take stock of its amenities. Anything relevant that you don’t find on the farm, you will probably need to purchase yourself. But you need to consider quality too. For instance, does your land have access to water? If so, that is a pretty great boon to a farmer, but is it potable? Will you need to dig a well? There is a lot to consider when looking at amenities. Some that may be necessary include barns, sheds, houses, orchards, barns, equipment, fences, etc. Again, make sure you thoroughly inspect all of these things for quality, as the costs of replacing them can add up, especially if you are not expecting them.

Service Access

Rural living is very different from suburban or urban living. Many of the government services, as well as access to many commercial services, may not be be available due to the seclusion. There are small hassles, like having to drive hours to the grocery store to restock on necessary items. It may be that the family has to survive with a trip to the store only every once or two weeks. But there are also serious hassles, like access to a fire department, police response, or a hospital. It is important to take precautions, like keeping first aid kits available, taking courses on how to apply first aid, investing in home security, and purchasing farm insurance. It can be very scary to be put in life or death situations without the safety net you are used to, so consider your ability to react to these situations before making a big investment like farm ownership.

Landscape

Many farms are sold with stipulations that certain areas cannot be farmed. This may be the case near streams, in wooded areas, or valleys, where farming could cause damage not just to your land and ecosystem, but to your neighbors’. Make sure you are aware of these stipulations before purchase.

Adjusting

Besides adjusting to a lack of services, if you are not used to it, the farm life can also take some personal adjusting. Are you okay with the long silence and long physical labor? If you are bringing your family or other people to help work it for you, are they? It is hard to know for sure before you experience it, and many people find they acclimate very well, but it should warrant some consideration before making the commitment.

Hopefully these tips help you on your journey to finding the perfect farmland for your needs. If you are looking for help financing your farmland, and need farm loans in Fayetteville, then give The Mortgage House a call at your earliest convenience. One of our friendly and knowledgeable representatives will be happy to answer any questions that you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!